1. Certificate of Title: Edith Flintoff 26/10/1897: Vol. 2659 Fol.531750. 2. Transfers of (1) Edith Flintoff, Edith Fullwood, John Bosch. 3. List of transfers from Frederick Nevins Flintoff including to Robert Whatmough and John McLaughlin. 4. Plenty River to Diamond Creek Road (plan) shows land belonging to Edith Flintoff, Edith Fullwood, John Bosch. 5. Register of proprietors including Edith Flintoff of Nillumbik, Portion 14, Vol. 2659 Fol.531750.Shows part of the chain of ownership of this parcel of land in Greensborough.5 pages. Copies of land titles and associated documentsflintoff family, land titles - greensborough

Contents: • Our History by Jim Connor • Our Next Meeting - Wednesday 12th October • Heritage Excursion - Kileavey Walk and Talk - Saturday 5th November • The Festive Reason by Mal Harrop • History of Maroondah Aqueduct Pipe Bridge over the Plenty River at Greensborough by Anne Paul • One Hundred Years Ago: Eltham and District - July-December 1916 by Liz Pidgeon • From the Hurstbridge Advertiser 2 March 1923 • Refurbishment of our Local History Centre • ... and also • Contacts for the Eltham District Historical Society The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 Colour photographyan yean, yan yean reservoir

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 Colour photographyan yean, yan yean reservoir

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 Colour photographyan yean, yan yean reservoir

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 Colour photographyan yean, yan yean reservoir

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990Colour photographyan yean, yan yean reservoir

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 Colour photographyan yean, yan yean reservoir

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 Colour photographyan yean, yan yean reservoir

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album of scenic photos of Yan Yean and Warrandyte believed to be donated by Mrs Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. On the 20th December 1853 Lieut Governor Charles LaTrobe took his spade to turn the first sod of an embankment across the swampy bed of the Plenty River at a lonely place called Yan Yean, in order to create Melbourne’s first water supply. In the early 1850’s water had been drawn from the Yarra which even then was known as Yarra Soup. A convict by the name of James Blackburn produced the basic design for supplying water to Melbourne from a reservoir on the Plenty River at Yan Yean, and later on he was appointed consulting engineer on the project. In 1853 a contract was let for the building of the wall for 91 thousand 575 pounds, and at one stage some 400 labourers were at work in the area. A tramway was constructed to convey stone and other materials from Melbourne. So famous was this magnificent stretch of water that illustrations of the bluestone embankment and tower appeared in London journals Whittlesea Historical Society – Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 Colour photographyan yean

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows Thomas Edmund Fielding (1874-1957) was a significant member of the Diamond Creek Footbal Club during the early 1900s. Son of Robert Fielding (1820-1891) and Jemima Whatmough (1840-1926) and grandson of Plenty River pioneers Robert Whatmough (1815-1887) and Mary Hill (1813-1881) Photo: The Allan Studio, 318 Smith Street, Collingwood Mark Joshua Allan, Photographer operated fropm 318 Smith Street Collingwood from 1887 to 1901thomas edmund fielding, tom fielding collection, independent order of odd fellows (ioof), m.j. allan photographers 318 smith st collingwood

Pioneer Reserve, Greensborough is a small park on the corner of St Helena and Diamond Creek Roads. It is adjacent to the site of Greensborough's first bridge across the Plenty River, c. 1864 - 1960s. The shelter, viewing platform, retaining wall and entrance are built from the bridge's massive bluestone arched abutments dismantled between 1974 and 1983. Pioneer Reserve is historically significant for its formative association with noted local landscape designer Gordon Ford in 1968, and it is likely that remnant large field stones at the entrance drive to the Reserve remain from his design. Photograph by Marilyn Smith 2014.Digital copy of colour photograph.

House built by Edward Maygar, Robert Whatmough lived there mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River at Partington's Flat Greensborough. The derelict Willis Vale house was vandalized later destroyed in 1964 when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. This photo was taken after the Partington's moved house in 1947 across the river where Alan built their new Alwyn house that had access to electricity.A pioneer home in Greensborough.Digital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale, partington family, robert whatmough, maygar family

This book traces the one hundered years of the development of the Shire of Whittlesea, from the discovery by Hume and Hovell in 1824 to the time of the centenary in 1975. The intervening years saw the settlement of Vandemonians, Sydney-siders, English, Scots, Irish and Germans, Black Thursday, the building of the Yan Yean Reservoir, the Plenty River flour millls, the timber industry, fruit-growing and export and vineyards. Personalities and pubs, subdivisions, stories of the Findon Hunt Club and various Shires including Epping. History of education and transiton from rural to urban in the south of the Shire. The work is illustrated with maps and photographs. The Shire is now the City of Whittlesea and is an immediate neighbour to the north of the Shire of Nillumbik. shire of whittlesea

Willis Vale: House built by Edward Maygar, Robert Whatmough lived there mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River at Partington's Flat Greensborough. Land use included farming and orchards. The derelict Willis Vale house was vandalized in 1964 and destroyed when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. This photo was taken after the Partington's moved house in 1947 across the river where Alan built their new Alwyn house that had access to electricity.Home of the Partington familyDigital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale, partington family, whatmough, maygar family

Willis Vale: House built by Edward Maygar, Robert Whatmough lived there mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River at Partington's Flat Greensborough. Land use included farming and orchards. The derelict Willis Vale house was vandalized in 1964 and destroyed when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. This photo was taken after the Partington's moved house in 1947; across the river where Alan built their new Alwyn house that had access to electricity.Home of the Partington familyDigital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale, partington, whatmough, maygar

Thomas McDonald was born in Hobart in 1836; in 1856 in Heidelberg, he married Mary Anne Maloney, born in County Clare Ireland c1836; Thomas was living in Diamond Creek and Mary Anne on Plenty River. They moved to Eltham and raised a family. Descendant Dan Delmo was researching this family's time in Eltham. Contents Photocopies of emails from Dan Delmo providing details of his family research; certificates of marriages, birth, deaths; letter 4 November 2010 from Lucille Andel with details of Eltham Rate Books. Photocopies of emails from Jim Connor, Eltham District Historical Society, listing McDonald children attending Eltham Primary School.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdan delmo, thomas mcdonald, mary anne mcdonald (nee maloney)

Photograph of Bosch (Bush) family as adults. Left to right: John Adam Bush Senior (Johannes Adem Bosch born 19/8/1867 died1925), Frederick William Bush (31/3/1892-20/8/1952), John Adam Bush Junior (3/2/1895-24/6/1970), Amelia Suzanne Bush (b25/6/1893). Johannes Bosch came to Australia in 1884 aged 17. He married Henrietta Duck, had 3 children and divorced in 1903. Around 1902 he anglicized the family name to Bush.They farmed along the Plenty River having purchased land from Flintoff. Digital copy of black and white studio photograph.john adam bush, johannes adem bosch, frederick william bush, amelia suzanne bush, bosch family, bush family

Willis Vale: House built by Edward Maygar, Robert Whatmough lived there mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River at Partington's Flat Greensborough. Land use included farming and orchards. The derelict Willis Vale house was vandalized in 1964 and destroyed when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. This photo was taken after the Partington's moved house in 1947. across the river where Alan built their new Alwyn house that had access to electricity. Home of the Partington family Home of the Partington familyDigital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale, partington, whatmough, maygar

This poster shows the habitat and wildlife corridors within the City of Banyule, including the Darebin Creek catchment and Plenty and Yarra river catchments.Colour poster, folded, printed on bot sides.native fauna, wildlife corridors, wildlife habitat

View of Greensborough from Willis Vale. The people in the photograph were visitors and not identified. Willis Vale: House built by Edward Maygar, Robert Whatmough lived there mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River at Partington's Flat Greensborough. Land use included farming and orchards. The derelict Willis Vale house was destroyed in 1964 when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. [Ellen died on 13/10/1903 - Some think this photo is thought to have been taken shortly after, at her funeral.]Digital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale, greensborough, partington family

These photographs of the house on the corner of St Helena and Diamond Creek Roads was taken in 2013 to show changes over 40 years, based on Ron Reynold's sketches in the 1973 publication 'Greensborough and Greenhills' published by Cypress Books... which states "Built on a steep hill in a bush setting in the early 1920s, for a Dr Wood, the weatherboard house now overlooks an area of activity and change. The owners, Mr and Mrs E. 'Bluey' Blackburn, remember when their 3/4 acre building block dropped to the edge of a dirt road. Today the view from the high verandah encompasses the Main Street shopping centre, new and old bridges, new roads and houses, the Plenty River, natural bush, hills and sports grounds."Digital copy of colour photograph.greensborough and greenhills, st helena road greensborough, diamond creek road greensborough, wood family, ron reynolds

Close up photograph of a section of brickwork at Willis Vale. This is the end wall under the roof. Willis Vale built by Edward Maygar, Robert Whatmough lived there mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River at Partington's Flat Greensborough. Land use included farming and orchards. The derelict Willis Vale house was vandalized in 1964 and destroyed when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. This photo was taken after the Partington's moved house in 1947 across the river where Alan built their new Alwyn house that had access to electricity.Part of Willis Vale, a pioneer home in the Greensborough area.Digital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale

View of Main Street Greensborough from Partington's Hill including Plenty River bridge and Marble Hall on corner of Carter Street (now Para Road) and Main Street. This view of Greensborough Park shows the old pan toilets, the hawthorn fence line and the rather undeveloped roadside area of the park. Looking up Main Street we see the old Chapman house at the corner of Poulter Avenue and some newer houses below this. The stone river bridge appears to be only a single lane wide and the road approaching the bridge is unsealed. The rail bridge shows evidence of soot from steam trains and at the extreme left of picture the two concrete buildings indicate the line had been electrified. This occurred in 1923. Sparse housing is seen in the Flintoff Street and Grimshaw Street area.Part of a collection of photographic enlargements of views of Greensborough in the early 1900s.Black and white enlargement of photographic imagemain street greensborough, marble hall, greensborough railway, chapman house, greensborough park, poulter avenue greensborough, carter street, para road

View of Greensborough in the distance from Willis Vale and surrounding land: House built by Edward Maygar, The flowering Hawthorne Bushes were planted by William Partington. Note the prominent house on upper right where Robert Whatmough lived in the mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River across from Partington's Flat. The derelict Willis Vale house was destroyed in 1964 when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. In 1946, Alan Partington built the Alwyn Farmhouse in place of the original Robert Whatmough home seen in this photo which became Whatmough Park circa 1976.Home of the Partington familyDigital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale, partington family, maygar family, whatmough

Located at 277-279 St Helena Road Saint Helena, Victoria. In 1841 Anthony Beale, born on the Island if St Helena took a pastoral lease on the Plenty River where he built a cottage, St Helena, which ultimately gave this area its name. Beale's wife Katherine Rose, nee Young died in 1856 and he erected "The rose Chapel" to her memory. After his death in 1865 the chapel was willed to the Church of England and consecrated in 1876. It was severely damaged by bushfire in 1957. It was fully restored and rededicated in November 1957. The bell calls parishoners to Sunday services is believed to a have come from the Island of St Helena. Source: Mr. A.E. Parsons, Pryor St., Eltham (Mrs. Glasgow - daughter)Statement of Significance Last updated on - October 10, 2005 St Helena's is a rare surviving example of a churchyard cemetery. It is of local historical significance because of its association with the local pioneering family, the Beales, and other notable citizens including Walter Withers and Graham Webster. The cemetery is also the oldest in the municipality, of State significance. The high level of maintenance and the rural ambience contribute to the overall significance of the site. St Katherine's Church building has been reconstructed and is of local historical interest, principally for its value in interpreting the original setting within the Cemetery. It contains stained glass windows of local historical significance, commemorating casualties of the Beale family in World War One. - Victorian Heritage Database This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image"St Katharine's Church, St Helena, Victoria"sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, other areas, st katherine's church, st helena

In 1851 Moses Thomas purchased 400 acres, including a half mile frontage to the Plenty River, at Mernda (then known as Morang) where he operated a farm, inn and other business. In 1865 Moses Thomas was appointed Engineer, Clerk and Collector for the Morang District Road Board. In this role he would have been responsible for overseeing the collection of local property rates and the maintenance and construction of local roads and drains. Road District Boards were one of the earliest forms of local government in Victoria. The Morang or Upper Plenty Road District was established in 1862. It covered part of what is today Mernda, Doreen, South Morang, Mill Park and Bundoora. In 1875, the area merged with the Whittlesea Road District to form the Shire of Whittlesea. Moses Thomas briefly served as a Councillor with the Shire of Whittlesea until his death in 1878. Correspondence. Letter, paper, handwritten text with seal. Letter from James Ryan, Shire Secretary, Shire of Whittlesea to Mrs Moses Thomas on the death of Moses 18 May 1878.

Contents: • 2024 – a year of many anniversaries by Jim Connor • Our Next Meeting - 7.30pm Wednesday 14th February 2024 • Heritage Excursion - Saturday 2nd March 2024 – Walking the Kurrum Yallock (Plenty River) • The beginning of Local Government in Eltham by Jim Connor • Alan Marshall – An Anniversary by Jim Connor • Book Review – Michael Wilson, Eltham Goldsmith and Sculptor – My Journey • Montsalvat People by Richard Pinn o Justus Jorgensen (1893-1975) o Betty Roland (1903-1996) • Two Eltham Women Served in WW1 by Terry Beaton • Brief Comparison Between WW1 and WW2 by Terry Beaton • Recollections of Marcus Skipper • Eltham Cemetery Stories by Liz Pidgeon o Lena Cooper Skipper, nee Wilshire, 1889-1970, Painter and Montsalvat Founder • Experience Eltham Cemetery: The founding members by Julia Drew The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to members (Digital and A4 photocopy)newsletter, eltham district historical society

Stuchbery Farm was situated on the Plenty River bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. Alan and Ada Stutchbery moved to the valley in 1890, first living in a tent where four children were born. Alfred built a home and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden and developed a dairy. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p179 The dramatic steep-sided Plenty Gorge lies along the divide of two geological areas, and separates the Nillumbik Shire and the City of Whittlesea. On the Nillumbik side are undulating hills and sedimentary rock, and in Whittlesea, lies a basalt plain formed by volcanic action up to two million years ago. This provides the Plenty Gorge Park with diverse vegetation and habitats, making it one of Greater Melbourne’s most important refuges for threatened and significant species. The park, established in 1986, consists of around 1350 hectares, and extends 11 kilometres along the Plenty River, from Greensborough to Mernda. It provides a wildlife corridor for around 500 native plant and 280 animal species.1 The area’s plentiful food and water attracted the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people and then European settlers. By 1837 squatters had claimed large runs of land for their sheep and cattle. The Plenty Valley was among the first in the Port Phillip District to be settled - mainly in the less heavily timbered west - and was proclaimed a settled district in 1841.2 But by the late 1880s, the settlers’ extensive land clearing for animal grazing, then agriculture, depleted the Wurundjeri’s traditional food sources, which helped to drive them away. Many Wurundjeri artefacts remain (now government protected), and so far 57 sites have been identified in the park, including scarred trees, burial areas and stone artefacts. Pioneer life could be very hard because of isolation, flooding, bushfires and bushrangers. Following the Black Thursday bushfires of 1851, basalt was quarried to build more fire-resistant homes. Gold discoveries in the early 1850s swelled the population, particularly around Smugglers Gully; but food production made more of an impact. In the late 1850s wheat production supplanted grazing. In the 1860s the government made small holdings available to poorer settlers. These had the greatest effect on the district, particularly in Doreen and Yarrambat, where orchards were established from the 1880s to 1914. Links with a prominent early family are the remains of Stuchbery Farm, by the river’s edge bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La Trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. The Stuchberys moved to the valley in 1890, and the family still lives in the area. In 1890, Alfred and Ada first lived in a tent where four children were born, then Alfred built the house and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden, and developed a dairy. The family belonged to the local Methodist and tennis communities. Their grandson Walter, opened the Flying Scotsman Model Railway Museum in Yarrambat, which his widow, Vi, continues to run. Wal was also the Yarrambat CFA Captain for 22 years until 1987. Walter sold 24 hectares in 1976 for development - now Vista Court - and in 1990, the remaining 22.6 hectares for the park. Remaining are an early stone dairy and remnants of a stone barn, a pig sty and a well.3 Until it was destroyed by fire in 2003, a slab hut stood on the Happy Hollow Farm site, at the southern end of the park. The hut is thought to have been built in the Depression around 1893. This was a rare and late example of a slab hut with a domestic orchard close to Melbourne. Emmet Watmough and his family first occupied the hut, followed by a succession of families, until the Bell family bought it around 1948. There they led a subsistence lifestyle for 50 years, despite encroaching Melbourne suburbia.4 The Yellow Gum Recreation Area includes the Blue Lake, coloured turquoise at certain times of the year. Following the 1957 bushfires, this area was quarried by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd for Melbourne’s first skyscrapers, then by Boral Australia. However in the early 1970s water began seeping into the quarry forming the Blue Lake and the quarry was closed. The State Government bought the site in 1997 and opened it as a park in 1999.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, ada stuchbery, alan stuchbery, dairy, stuchbery farm, farm buildings, yarrambat, plenty gorge park